I recently
sent a letter to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and I would like to share a part
of it with you.

“Our community would like to let you know that
we will once again be taking action regarding Pitt’s Homecoming
Week fireworks display.

"Last year, the Pitt administration stated you,
Fire Chief Darryl Jones, and Public Safety Director Mike Huss were
partially responsible for the Homecoming Week fireworks display because
each of you permitted the event. They also stated that Pitt’s
Student Government was responsible because student fees paid for this
fireworks display.

"This
sharing of responsibility carries potential consequences. If an Oakland
resident or hospital patient were adversely affected or injured by
this massive fireworks display, then the three of you, as well as the
members of Pitt’s Student Government, would be legally accountable.

"On May
24, 2011, in an email to Pitt’s Chief of Staff G. Reynolds
Clark, I asked the following question: “Who makes the final decision
on whether there will be a Homecoming Week fireworks display this year?” He
refused to answer. The issue of responsibility seems to be one of avoidance
rather than one of accountability, and therefore sends residents like
myself elsewhere for answers. This fireworks display, unfortunately,
is not one of celebration, but one of safety concerns.

"Our community
hopes that the three of you, along with Pitt’s administrators
and Student Government members, will have the wisdom and compassion
to move this fireworks display to a venue outside of Oakland.”

-- End
of letter.

In November of last year, one month after Pitt’s Homecoming
Week fireworks display, Oakland’s three Council members sent a
letter to Mr. Clark stating: “We respectfully request that the
University review the issues raised by Mr. Giampolo.” Your request
was ignored also, even though the three of you represent the entire community.

Homes
as far away as Bloomfield shake from the exploding firebombs, so you
can imagine what it does to homes that are only several hundred feet
away. There is also a very real danger to hospital patients – especially
ICU patients and those at Western Psychiatric Hospital. We will ask the
president of one of the UPMC hospitals if he is willing to be an advocate
voice for the hospital patients in Oakland.

In addition to the danger
this fireworks represents to residents and hospital patients, the fireworks
issue is also symbolic of a University administration that is trying
to dominate our community, our Council and our Mayor. Know that our grassroots
movement will continue in our efforts to end this and other injustices
in our community. Will you now give us your support, or will you allow
our community to become nothing more than Pitt’s playground?